Cold Weather Care For Senior Pets

Here in Colorado, we enjoy sunny or at least partly sunny days for at least two-thirds of every year, but when winter hits, we know it! Temperatures can plunge below 0° up here in the foothills, and that can mean tough times for our furry friends. That’s why we want to keep you up to date with some important tips for cold weather care for senior pets. 

In this article, we’ll cover why senior pets struggle more with colder weather, tips for senior pet outdoor safety in the cold, how to recognize when they’re getting too cold, and how we can keep our senior pets healthier and more comfortable throughout the winter season. Let's take a look.

How Do Colder Temperatures Affect Senior Pets?

Remember when you were a teen, and you could wear shorts in winter? Now that you’re older, it’s more likely you’ll wear something with more coverage that will actually keep you feeling warmer. Well, pets are like that too. 

When your pet is young, they seem to have boundless energy and race around as if they’ll never get tired. When they do tire, they take a nap, then off they go again. But as they grow older, their energy levels drop, and they slow down. Walks are shorter, naps are longer, and they don’t bounce back as quickly as they used to.

How we age echoes how our pets age, though our pets age much faster than we do. The older your pet is, the more likely they’ll need an extra layer or extra care when you take them outside. Though temperatures drop, walks don’t have to be canceled unless you see in the weather forecasts that being outside for longer than a specified period can be dangerous. Pay attention to these warnings, particularly for your senior pets.

Why Cold Weather Affects Older Pets More

With aging come declines in metabolism, muscle mass, energy levels, immune system function, circulation, and worsening conditions associated with old age. These are natural signs of aging, and the older your pet, the more likely they are to suffer one or more of these problems.

Common Conditions In Aging Pets

Joint Pain: One of the major problems that can worsen in the cold, damp winter is arthritis. Human arthritis sufferers often complain of feeling stiffer and having more painful joints in cold, damp weather, so we know this must be how our pets feel in the same conditions.

Slower Metabolism: Older pets find it harder to stay warm because reduced muscle mass (possibly due to joint pain) reduces their ability to burn calories effectively. Not burning calories effectively can lead to weight gain, making movement even harder on the joints.

Weaker Immune System: Reduced immunity means your pet can’t fight off bacteria or viruses as well as they used to. This means they may catch more viruses and have those illnesses last longer than they should, or viruses may take a greater hold on your pet, making them harder to treat. And we all know viruses and bacteria are more prevalent during the winter season.

Keeping Senior Pets Warm in the Winter Cold

Of course, it’s not just age that affects your pet’s warmth in winter. Your pet’s weight and hair also matter. If you have a toy dog breed or an animal weighing under 10lb, they’re going to need extra protection from severe cold.

Short-haired and no-hair breeds are also particularly susceptible to deep cold. If the conditions are really bad, you may prefer to keep these smaller breeds indoors, play with them for exercise, and only let them out for short, monitored bathroom breaks in an area clear of snow and ice.

Outdoor Safety Tips: Cold Weather Care For Senior Pets

Though we can't control the weather, there are a few things we can do to help keep our best friends safe outside when it really turns cold. Consider how you feel outside when it’s chilly, and be sure to take as good care of your pets as you do yourself.

• Limit Time Outside: Short, frequent spells outdoors, especially in extreme cold, icy conditions, or early mornings/evenings.

• Protective Wear: Use sweaters or coats to keep them warm, and booties to protect paws from ice and salt.

• Paw Care: Gently wipe their paws after walks to remove salt and check for cracks in their pads.

• Avoid Ice: Stick to cleared paths to help prevent slips and falls, which are risky for older pets (and their owners). 

Those are the physical things we can do to look out for our aging pets out in the cold, but how do you know how they are coping with the lower temperatures?

Recognizing Signs of Cold In Senior Pets

We know how we feel when we’re cold. We shiver, and our noses, fingers, and toes (extremities) are the first to feel that cold, even if we wear scarves, mittens, and cozy winter boots. Our poor pups can’t wear all the protection we do, so we have to be aware and look out for them. Here are some telltale signs you should notice and act on quickly to bring them indoors and warm them through slowly:

• Intense shivering, nervousness, whining, lifting alternate paws, tucking their tail under their body, or if you see them moving more slowly outside than usual.

• Hypothermia and frostbite are serious. If you think your pet may have either one, get them to a veterinarian as soon as possible.

How To Keep Your Senior Pets Safe And Healthy This Winter

It’s important for you to learn the subtle signs that your pet may be suffering from being too cold. Don’t ignore those shivers. Shivers are the body’s way of attempting to warm up. You don’t want their internal temperature to drop too much, because that’s when we get into the dangers of them becoming hypothermic.

Now that we’ve covered some common outdoor problems, we’ll take a look at keeping our furry friends happy indoors.

Indoor Comfort For Your Senior Pet

Do you enjoy snuggling under a cozy throw with your fingers wrapped around a steaming mug of hot chocolate when it’s chilly out? Sounds great, doesn’t it? So, try thinking about how you can help your pet feel the same way. What do you think they would like to help keep them warm and contented? How about these ideas?

• Place their bed somewhere warm: The floor can be cold since hot air rises, so try raising their bed a little higher off the ground and away from drafts from doors and windows. Thicker-based beds can help keep the cold at bay, or orthopedic beds that warm up with their body heat.

• Warm up their food: Perhaps gently warm what they’re about to eat so it’s not ‘straight from the fridge’ cold. This is more gentle on their stomach and helps them stay warm both inside and out.

• Consider heated beds: Be careful if you choose to use heated beds. You don’t want them to overheat. Maybe turn on the heat for a short period before your pet hops in just to warm it through, then set an alarm to remind you to shut it off. Don’t leave the heat on long-term.

  
  

Of course, you could always have them up on your lap, if you allow that in your home, so you can each share your own heat.

Senior Pet Health During The Winter Months

Your pet’s health and your own health actually run parallel when it’s cold out. Yes, we humans and our pets deal with similar cold-related problems as we age. Here’s how our health troubles match up.

• Stay Hydrated: Make sure your pets can get to fresh water that’s not iced over. We need to stay hydrated too, since warm homes usually have drier air.

• Healthy Joints: Arthritis symptoms tend to worsen when the weather is colder and more damp. Your veterinarian can suggest prescription medications or supplements to help with your pet’s joint health. 

• Managing Weight: Keeping your pet at a healthy weight for their age and breed helps prevent their joints from struggling under unnecessary weight.

Cold Weather Care For Senior Pets FAQs

Do all senior dogs need winter gear?

Senior dogs, in general, tend to have thinner skin, less body fat, and poorer circulation, so winter gear is definitely appropriate. Short-haired and no-hair breeds will suffer most with extreme cold, so use sweaters and coats for them as well as booties. If you have larger dogs with thick, heavy coats, they should be ok outside for short periods, but their nose and paws can still suffer.

Can you leave a senior dog outdoors?

It’s not advisable to leave a senior dog outside unmonitored, particularly in colder weather. The colder the weather, the shorter the outside period should be.

How cold is too cold for senior dogs?

Cold discomfort can start at or below 45F in smaller breeds, short- or no-hair breeds, sick dogs, or very young or very old dogs. Below 32F, it may be dangerous to keep the same dogs mentioned above for long periods of time. Below 20F, keep outside spells short for toilet trips only. Do not leave your dog out for extended periods of time in these temperatures.

What are some signs your senior dog is too cold?

Intense shivering, tucking their tail under their body, lifting one paw at a time, nervousness, whining, or if you see them moving more slowly outside than usual are all signs that your dog is struggling in the cold.

Hopefully, now you have enough information about cold weather care for senior pets to keep your best friend safe and cozy when those temperatures tank. If you have questions about your pet's condition, reach out to your veterinarian. Or if it's finally time to say goodbye, don't delay, call Dr. Amy.

Stay warm!